Stamp-affixing device.



A. HALL.

STAMP AFFIXING DEVIGE APPLICATION FILED rmzs, 1912A 1,071,912. Peteneed sepe.2,1913.

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UNITED STATES rPYTENT OFFICE.

ALFRED HALL, 0F LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO WILLIAM W, WHITTEN, OF DORCI-IESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

STAMP-AFZEIXING DEVICE.

i ,ori ,are

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 2, 1 9i 3.

To all wlw/a i may concern.'

Vle it known that I, ALFRED HALL, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Los Gatos, county of Santa Clara, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Stamp-Aflixing Devices, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to a stamp a'l'lixing device, and its object is to provide a device of this character of simple and eilieient construction by means of which the stamps will be properly moistened, separated from a rolled strip and applied to the envelop or package by a single blow or stroke.

The device is adapted to make use of a roll of stamps in which the successive stamps are separated from each other by a row of perforations, and the feeding devices cnmloyed feed the stamps along by engagement with. the perforations, thus insuring abi-date accuracy of the delivery of each stamp from the device.

The device also comprises means for automatically lifting the leading stamp from the moistening device after the severance of each stamp from the strip.

'lhe device also comprises novel features in the construction of the feeding mechanism, the means for handling the stamp strip in its passage from the roll to the moistening device, in the moistening device and in other features, all of which will more fully appear from the accompartyingl description and drawings and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The drawings illustrate a preferred form of stamp aflixing device embodying the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, with the casing cover removed, of the entire device; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the device with the casing cover in place and with the casing and cover cut away to show the interior mechanism; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the lower portion of the device shown in Fig. 1, with a number of the parts shown in vertical cross section; .l `ig. 4f is a bottom plan view of the mechanism for guiding the stamp to the meistening device.

The device comprises a generally rectangular metallic casing havingl a body part l and a cover part 2, the latter being a generally llat plate itting against the body part and locked or removably secured thereto by any suitable means. The body part is forn'ied at the forward end of the bottom with an opening 3, through which the stamps are discharged onto the envelop or package. Side openings At are also provided in the cover and body part, through which the stamp may be viewed as it is pressed onto the envelop or package.

The roll of stamps is shown at 5 mounted on a stud (S secured to and projecting from the face of the body part of the casing, so that when the cover is removed the roll may be placed on or removed from the stud Circular `flanged plates 7 on the stud (S are provided, and the stud 'is provided with enlarged ends or washers S to maintain the flanged plates 7 with the interposed roll of stamps centrally of the stud.

At, the bottom of the casing a. tank i) is provided. rlhis tank lits snugly within the casing at the bottom between the rear wall of the casing and the fixed knife l() to be described. The tank provided on its upper surface with a removable screw cap or cover 11 to enable the tank to be filled with water. The tank is held iirmly in place b v pins 12 piejecting from its sides and engaging apertures in the cover and casing. At its forward end the tank .is provided with a suitable device for feeding the moisture to the adhesive side of the stamps. The construction shown for this purpose, which is exceedingly simple and ellicient, comprises a frame 13 litting within the forward end of the tank and resting upon the bottom thereof. ,lhis frame is slotted at its lower rear side and has journahal near its top and projecting slightly thereabov i a roll 15. This roll is very finely (an-rugated longitudinally of its surface, and a wick '1(3 held in place between the end ol the tank and the frame 13 feeds moisture to the surface of the roll, where it remains in a thin lilm b v reason of the linely corrugated surface until its transfer to the adhesive of the stamp. The tank being removable from the casing may be readily cleansed, refilled or rcsupplied with the wick.

A guide table 17 is supported immediately above the tank and is shown as formed of sheet metal. being provided at its rear end with lugs 18 Vjournaled on thc shaft 15) projecting from the side wall of the casing. The guide table is formed with upturned side edges 20, which serve as gages for the stamp strip and which project slightly beyond the forward end yof the guide table. The feeding devices which push the stamp strip forwardly over this guide table will in time wear the surface of the table, and this invention therefore provides hardened steel strips 21 seated in longitudinal depressions in the guide table and held in place by their ends being downturned and clamped about the ends of the guide table.

A frame 22 is pivotally mounted on the casing at 23 and provided with longitudinally slotted side members 24. The table is provided with legs 25, which when the table is in normal operative position rest upon the tank and maintain it parallel with the guide table.

A carriage 26 is provided at each side with anti-friction rolls 27 riding in longitudinal slots of the side members 24 of the frame, and this carriage is reciprocated longitudinally of t-he frame and hence of the guide table by a lever 28 having a slot 29` at its lower end riding over a stud 30 on the carriage. This lever 28 is pivoted at 31 to a projection 32 rigid with the casing and is operated by a vertically movable stud 33 riding in a cam shaped slot 34 formed in the lever.

VThe carriage 26 is provided with a plurality of feeding` lingers which are adapted in the forward movement of the carriage to enter and catch in the perforations between the successive stamps. ln the construction shown several of the feeding fingers are mounted at each side'of the carriage, six of such fingers being shown at each side. These lingers are more closely spaced than the perforations in the strip so that one or more of the fingers at each side is sure to enga-ge one' or more perforations at each side. Each feeding finger is freely mounted at its rear end upon a shaft 35 secured transversely in the carriage and in its forward end isprovided with a downwardly projecting feeding point 36 to catch in the perforations7 the rear side of the point being beveled or inclined and its fro-nt being substantially perpendicular so that as the carriage moves forward the point will drop into the perforations7 and as the carriage is retracted the point will ride over the strip of stamps. The downward movement of the feeding finger about the shaft 35 is limited by the projecting rear end 37 contact-ing with the carriage7 and the feeding linger is normally pressed downwardly by a spring. This spring is formed in the shape of a comb having a transverse portion 38 secured to the carriage and having its depending fingers 39 resting respectively upon the several feeding fingers. It will thus be seen removable Y that thevspring, being formed of one piece of metal, is held firmly and rigidly in place, and yet each feeding linger is enabled to act yieldingly and independently of the others. The sto-ps formed by the projecting rear ends 37 of the feeding fingers prevent the feeding lingers from descending sufiiciently to catch in or tear the stamp strip, but allow them to descend sufficient-ly to insuretheir catching in the perforations.

The frame 22 carries a spring` plate 40 having an upturned portion secured to a cross-bar 41 connecting the rear ends of the side members and having a body portion eX- tending parallel to the guide table. vThis body portion is preferably divided into separate side tongues 42 and a central tongue 43 between which the feeding fingers operate. The side tongues 42 are prolonged forwardly and at their ends form bearings for a presser roll 44. This roll is preferably transversely grooved or corrugated7 as shown, to press the stamp strip against the moistening device to insure the complete moistening of the strip. The spring tension of the plate 40 is such as to maintain the body or tongues thereof parallel with the guide table to allow vthe stamp strip to be fed therebetween and with the press-er roll 44 pressing the stamp against the meistening device when the stamp strip is being fed forward. The chief function of the side tongues 42 is to hold .the roll 44 yieldingly to press the stamp strip against the inoistening roll 157 while the chief function of the central tongue is to press the stamp strip yieldingly against. the guide table over which it is being fed. Y

Means are provided for raising the stamp strip from 0H the moistening device automatically after the severance of a stamp from the strip. Tn the form herein illustrated the guide table and the superjace-nt spring plate with the interposed stamp strip are thus lifted automatically. This means comprises a lever 45 fulcrumed at 46 to the casing and having a stud 47 extending beneath the forward end ofthe guide table and suitably operated, as will be described. The guide table is also provided at its forward end with a depending leg 48 to contact with the top of the tank and limit its downward m ovement.

The stamp strip as it comes from the roll passes downwardly and turns sharplyy about a suitable braking device before it passes along' the guide table. lThis braking device comprises a large corrugated roll 49 jo-urnaled in the rear ends of the side members 24 of the frame 22 and asinaler roll 50 held yieldingly against the larger roll. This yielding cont-act is secured in the present instance by journaling the roll 50 in the lower end o/f a long spring 51 secured at its upper end 52 to the casino.

The iframe 22 looked in its normal or downward position by a, spring eateh 355, and upon pressing bat-li this spring ealeh 'the frame may be swung upwardly about its 'pivotal stud 23 to enable the stamp strip to be slipped in place upon the guide table and beneath the spring plate 4t).

The stamps are severed successively from the strip and pressed upon the envelop or package by a plunger' neviee, whieh also serves to operate the feeding meehanism and to elevate the stamp strip from the moistening device atter the severance o'l' the stamps. This plunger is shown as eompris ing a tubular stem 54 provided with a head and adapted ilior vertical movement in a eylimlrieal bearing 5G rigidly seeured in the forward upper portion of the easing. .A heli nal spring 57 is inolosed in the tubular portion 5ft; and abuts at its upper end against the head 55 and at its lower end againsta linger 5S depending from the lprojeetion 32 and projecting through the bearing 56 into the plunger, which is vertici lly slotted to allow it to move over this tinger. tlenee, upon the depression of the plunger, ,it will compress the spring, so when the spring is released it will return the plunger to the position shown in Fig. l.

The plunger stem earries ynfojeoting 'from its lower end an arm 5t), the bearing 5o being slotted to allow 't'or the vertieal movement ot the arm, and this arm earries at its free end the stud 535-3, giving thereby vertical nuwement to the stud .for operating the lever 28 already described. llenee, upon the reeiproeation o'f the plunger the lever QB is operated to give the proper 'feeding and return moven'ient to the Carriage 2li, the lower portion ot the eam slot till assuming a position parallel to the line ot reciprocation otl the plunger during the latter portion of the downward movement. ot the plunger, so that the movement ot the plnr` may be elected for eaeh movement ot the stamp strip d'lufing the seven anee ot the stamp and its applioatien to the envelop or paeliage. rihe plunger' is also provided at its lower end with a stud or pin ($0 extending beneath the end ot the lever fl-.5 and so arranged thatI 'when the plunger rises to its upper position it raises the tree end oi.t the lever 15, thus lifting the guide table against the tension oit' the spring plate 4th, thus raising the interposed stamp strip and the roll all to lit't the leading stamp :t'rom o'tll the moistening device.

The bottom of the plunger is reotangular and is preferably faced with a pad sue-h as the roughened rubber plate 5l, and is ot the size oitl the stamp. The plunger is preta erably provided at its forward side with an anti-itirietion roll G2 riding against a vertical rib or suritaee (S3 on the easing.

The stamp is sheared at the line of per't`orations ot the strip by the coa-.tion ot a lmite tl carried by the plunger with the tixed llnit'e lt). ',lhe stamp strip is :ted over the knife it) and the sides ot the plate 'from whieh the kni'te is toi-med extend upwardly as shown at (l5, and are beveled on their nl ward 'forward taees, thus serving as guides t'or the lni'te tiet. 'lhis knite till; is loosely mounted at its upper end to the plunger by the serew (t, and its lower edge is held yieldingly outwardly against the guides (S5 by eoil springs (3T seated in the plunger.

The operation oit the devine will be apparent trom the` `toregoing deseriptitm.

it will be seen that the downward movement ol the plunger 'teeds the stamp strip over the moistening roll l5 beneath the plunger, shears it at, the line ot' perlorations, and itast'ens Vit to the envelop or package, and then upon its upward movement retraets the feeding devine and elevates the guide table and roll lft to li'tl: the stamp strip out ot eontaet with the inoistening roll. It is impossible to 't'eed the stamp strip along exrept by the pertorations, so that there is no danger oit? severing the stamps save along the perforated line.

llaving 'tully deseribed my invention, what l elaim as new and desire lo seeure by Letters llatent is:

l.. stamp atlxing devine eonljirising a reeiproealing stamp a tlixing plunger, a sup-- port 'tor a roll o'l" stamps, a moistening device, deviees :nlapted to guide the strip ot stamps over the moistening devire, and means acting automatica ly to lit the stamp strip and its cooperating guiding deviees Ytrom the moistening deviee atter the passage ot eaeh stamp thereover.

2. l stamp atlixing devine eomprising a reeiprorating stamp atlixing ipilunger, a sup port for a roll otE stamps, a inoistening de vire, inaus extending beneath the stamp st rip in proximity to the meisteningl devine, and eonneetions between said means and the said plunger whereby upon ear/l1 upward movement ot' the plunger said means are elevated adjacent the moistening device to litt the stamp strip therefrom.

23. A stamp atlixing device (comprising a reeipr( -ating stamp atlixiug plunger, a support 'tor a roll ot stamps, a moistening deviee, a guide table, having its` forward end adjaeent the moistenng devine to guide the strip otl stamps over the moisteuing devine, a spring plate above the guide table, a presser roll earried at the 'tree end otE lhe said spring plate and eoperaling with the .moistening deviee, and means automatieally aeting lo elevate the spring plate and stamp strip to litt the stamp strip from the moistening deviee a'tter the passage ot? eat-l1 stamp thereo ver.

st. A stamp atlxing device (comprising a reeiprorating stamp atlxing plunger', a support for a roll of stamps, a moistening device, a guide table in proximity to and adapted to guide the strip of stamps over the moistening device, and means act-ing automatically to elevate the guide table adjacent the moistening device to lift the stamp strip from the moistening device after the passage of each stamp thereover.

57A stamp vafliring device comprising a reciprocating stamp aflixing plunger, a sup port for a roll of stamps, a moistening device, a guide table in proximity to and adapted to guide the strip of stamps over the moistening device, and connections between the said guide table and the said plunger whereby upon each upward movement of the plunger the guide table is elevated adjacent the moistening device to lift the stamp strip therefrom.

6. A stamp afiixing device comprising a reciprocating stamp affixing plunger, a support for a roll of stamps, a moistening device, a guide table, pivoted at its rear end and having its forward end adjacent the moistening device to guide the strip of stamps over the moistening device, a spring plate above the guide table, a presser roll carried at the free end of the said spring plate and cooperating with the moistening device, and means automatically acting to elevate the guide table superjacent spring plate and interposed stamp strip to lift stamp strip from the moistening device after the passage of each stamp thereover.

7. A stamp afiixing device comprising a reciprocating stamp afhxing plunger, a support for a roll of perforated stamps, guide. table recessed longitudinally, hardened steel strips located in said recesses, a carriage mounted to reciprocate over said guide table, connections to said alunger for reciprocating the carriage therefrom, feeding fingers yieldingly mounted in said carriage above said hardened steel strips whereby upon the forward movement of the carriage the fingers will catch the perforations in the stamp strip and move along on said hardened steel strips.

8. A stamp aflixing device comprising a reciprocating stamp aiiiXing plunger, a support for a roll of stamps, a moistening device, a guide table terminating adjacent said moistening device, a roller at the opposite end of the guide table around which the stamp strip is deflected from the supply roll on to the guide table, and av braking roll, and means for holding it yieldingly against said de'liecting roll to retard the movement of the interposed stamp strip.

9. A stamp afiiXing device comprising a reciprocating stamp afliXing plunger, a support for a roll of perforated stamps, a guide table to direct the stamps beneath the plunger, a spring plate mounted above the guide ltable with a plurality of supported tongues guide table terminating adjacent said mois` tening device, a carriage mounted to reciprocate above said guide table, connections between said carriage and said plunger to reciprocate the former from the latter, a plurality of feed fingers journaled in said carriage and each provided with a downwardly projecting feeding point, and a comb spring on said carriage having its teeth engaging separately the feeding fingers.

11. A stamp afiiXing device comprising a reciprocating stamp afiiXing plunger, a support for a roll o-f stamps, a tank, a moistening roll adjacent said plunger, a wick entering said tank and contacting with said roll periphery to maintain the same mois tened, a presser roll cooperating with said moistening roll, and means operated by said plunger to feedV the stamp strip over said moistening roll beneath said plunger and means acting automatically to lift the stamp strip from the moistening device after the passage of each stamp thereover;

12. A stamp atfixing device comprising a reciprocating stamp aiiiXing plunger, a support for a roll of stamps, a tank, a metallic moistening roll provided with iine. longitudinal co-rrugations on its periphery, a wick entering said tank and cont-acting with said roll periphery to maintain the same moistened, a presser roll cooperating with said moistening roll and means operated by said plunger to feed the stamprstrip over said moistening roll beneath said plunger and means acting automatically to lift the stamp strip from the moistening device after the passage of each stamp thereover.

1n testimony whereof, 1 have signed my name to this speciiication, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED HALL.

Witnesses t V B. G. Morris, THOMAS J. DRUMMOND.

Copies of thisy patent may be obtained lfor five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents,

' Washington, D. G. 

